"TRUE" Cost of Alaska Cruise?

[Angiet2]

We have booked Regent for the 12 day Vancouver to SFO, Alaska cruise, August 2011. One of the reasons we booked Regent, after just coming back from a Celebrity Alaska cruise, was for the 'included' excursions. In reading these boards (and THANKS to all of you, for always being so sharing and giving with your thoughts, opinions and trip saving tips!), it seems that I need to still be prepared to pay, BIG BUCKS for the 'good' excursions (helicopter rides, etc.).

Past Regent Alaska guests, please give us the 'real deal' on what we should expect to budget to have FABULOUS excursions on an Alaska cruise. On the Celebrity Alaska cruise, we spent approx. $2500 for 7 days of great tours (worth every, single cent, too! What a stunning state, Alaska is!).

We are obviously booked on Regent for the wonderful service and elegant food, as well as the GREAT guests/friends that we will undoubtably meet. But that being said, I would rather have my expectations set realistically, ahead of time, so that I begin my cruise with a big smile, knowing what my 'real budget is'.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions! We really appreciate it!

[ededmd]

We were a party of 6 with 2 suites: (2 adults and 2 kids) and (1 adult and 1 teen).
We spent about $900 for the Grandview train for all of us.
We took the Sea Otter and Wildlife tour in Sitka- included.
Four did their own thing in Juneau. Two booked a private zipline adventure at $130 per.
We spent $600 (addon) for the Skagway Railroad excursion for all of us.
We booked a private fishing boat charter for Ketchikan for $600 base + fish processing/shipping for all of us. I would be happy to recommend our operator if you are interested. He was great!
We spent about $800-1000 among all of us for OBC to include shopping/ souvenirs, 2 spa facials, 1 upgraded bottle of wine. If we had less OBC, we with certainty would have spent less.
Just given the age of especially the youngest, we didn’t do the helicopters / flightseeing / dogsledding but count on anywhere from $399 – 599 per person add-ons for those.

Hope this helps.

[IndiTravler]

We did Alaska in Aug 2010 Southbound. Our Excursions were:

Arrive 2 days early to sight see Anchorage -- on our own. We hit a couple of museums and spent around $50pp
Costal Glassic Grand View Train $130pp -- on our own (this was so we could arrive early in Seward to see the Alaska SeaLife Center). Of note, while the Alaska RR says there is no luggage storage, as soon as they found out we were going on the Regent Cruise, they created a bin to hold all of our luggage and delivered it with all the folks who were on the later Regent train. So we never had to deal with luggage in Seward.
Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward - $20pp on our own
Sitka -- Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest (Included) -- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- But it doesn't leave much time to see the town and your first stop in town must be the Cathedral. We started on the far end of town to see the Sheldon Jackson Museum ($5pp and amazing) and the Russian Bishop's House ($5pp and amazing). By the time we got back to the Cathedral it was closed.
Tracy Arm -- Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer ($99pp) -- was worth every penny.
Juneau -- Mendenhall Glacier and Evening Whale Quest ($99pp) -- was worth every penny. But the buffet is not as good as the Navigator's buffet.
Skagway -- Eagle Preserve Float Adventure and Cruise ($99pp) -- for us this was the wrong choice -- way too much time traveling for the amount of time floating on the river looking at eagles (only 1 hour or so of float time -- but lots of eagles in that one hour).
Ketchikan -- Totem Bight and Town Tour (Included) -- while this was very good, it was the short excurision smak dab in the middle of the port time that made it difficult to see anything else. We did go to the Totem Heritage Cultural Center on our own and were disapointed that very few of the 33 poles they have are actually on display. If you want to go ot the Cultural Center, just follow the creek upstream for a very senic walk.

Hope this helps.

Back to your actual question -- outside of the actual cruise and hotel costs, we spent $600 on Regent Excursions and another $400 on our own.

[tallship]

Am really surprised that Tracy Arm is an add on

Was this always the case?

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Tina - it's a separate boat, they pick you up at the ship and then drop you off at the port at the end. Definitely a highlight of the trip

[Travelcat2]

On the 12-14 night Alaska sailings (May and September), the Navigator will do Tracy Arm (ice permitting). We were on the Navigator last May and had an awesome Tracy Arm experience. Time limitations and traffic could be a couple of the reasons that Regent is unable to do it the rest of the time.

[colomom]

On the 12-14 night Alaska sailings (May and September), the Navigator will do Tracy Arm (ice permitting). We were on the Navigator last May and had an awesome Tracy Arm experience. Time limitations and traffic could be a couple of the reasons that Regent is unable to do it the rest of the time.

When we went (9/8 to 9/15) the catamaran picked up those who paid for the Tracy Arm "add-on", and while we did cruise into the fjord on the Navigator, we only went as far as the waterfall and did not see very much of the fjord. I understand from later discussions that the add-on folks saw the Sawyer Glacier but apparently there was too much ice to get really close. Someone also said that the abundance of ice was relayed back to the Navigator (via radio) and that was why we did not go very far. We arrived in Juneau early. While I do not know any of that for sure, if you want the full Tracy Arm experience, which people rave about, then the extra fee is worth every penny.

Regardless of the distance into the fjord, I have to say, it was breathtaking.

[Travelcat2]

When we went (9/8 to 9/15) the catamaran picked up those who paid for the Tracy Arm "add-on", and while we did cruise into the fjord on the Navigator, we only went as far as the waterfall and did not see very much of the fjord. I understand from later discussions that the add-on folks saw the Sawyer Glacier but apparently there was too much ice to get really close. Someone also said that the abundance of ice was relayed back to the Navigator (via radio) and that was why we did not go very far. We arrived in Juneau early. While I do not know any of that for sure, if you want the full Tracy Arm experience, which people rave about, then the extra fee is worth every penny.

Regardless of the distance into the fjord, I have to say, it was breathtaking.

Although it is quite beautiful, IMO, nothing can ever match Hubbard Glacier!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I haven't cruised Alaska, but it was my understanding from others here that excursions in general are *very* expensive. And that with Regent's "included" excursions, the ones bearing an extra cost were much more reasonably-priced than previously.

Perhaps those who have done Alaska before and/or after the change in excursion inclusion can confirm that?

[Travelcat2]

I haven't cruised Alaska, but it was my understanding from others here that excursions in general are *very* expensive. And that with Regent's "included" excursions, the ones bearing an extra cost were much more reasonably-priced than previously.

Perhaps those who have done Alaska before and/or after the change in excursion inclusion can confirm that?

We were on the Mariner prior to the "included" excursions and this year as well (Navigator). I can definitely verify that the cost for Regent excursions is considerably less than they were previously. There was an interesting discussion about excursion costs vs. actual costs within the past two weeks. I estimated the Regent excursions to be 50% of the cost to do the excursion on your own. Another poster was able to quote a specific comparison.

[Angiet2]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, BUT, my TA is giving us a $1100 OBC...Since the best way to reserve the excursions is online, in advance,and I believe that you have to use a credit card to secure your booking. Once I am onboard, is it possible to go the to the shore excursion desk and 'exchange' my credit card and use OBC instead? That would certainly help to take the 'sting' out of the cost of the helicopter rides, whale watching, etc :)

Thanks for all the valuable feedback, so far. I am so looking fwd to this Regent experience!!

[Travelcat2]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, BUT, my TA is giving us a $1100 OBC...Since the best way to reserve the excursions is online, in advance,and I believe that you have to use a credit card to secure your booking. Once I am onboard, is it possible to go the to the shore excursion desk and 'exchange' my credit card and use OBC instead? That would certainly help to take the 'sting' out of the cost of the helicopter rides, whale watching, etc :)

Thanks for all the valuable feedback, so far. I am so looking fwd to this Regent experience!!

I was kind of waiting for someone else to answer this question since the guidelines are fuzzy. According to the guidelines, you can book your excursions in advance (highly recommended -- book the minute you are able to) and pay with a credit card. Then when you are on board,
go to Destination Services where you can cancel the reservation and rebook using OBC. If there is a waiting list for the excursion, this would not work.

The way it has been working on the Navigator is a bit different. This past summer, many of us went to Destination Services as soon as we were on board and were told not to worry about it and to return later in the cruise. We went back mid-cruise and were told the same thing. Towards the end of the cruise, we were able to get a refund (in cash -- they cannot put it back on your credit card). So, I recommend that you go to Destination Services at your first opportunity and see what they say.

[wripro]

Is Regent the only luxury line that charges upfront for any excursion charges that are not included?

[Travelcat2]

Is Regent the only luxury line that charges upfront for any excursion charges that are not included?

They may be. . . . I know that Silversea does not charge upfront. Not sure about Seabourn or Crystal.

[DaveFr]

They may be. . . . I know that Silversea does not charge upfront. Not sure about Seabourn or Crystal.
TC2,

I'm curious. When you sign up for an excursion on Silversea, do you get a confirmed reservation or are you only submitting a request for a particular excursion as used to be the case on Regent?

Dave

[Travelcat2]

TC2,

I'm curious. When you sign up for an excursion on Silversea, do you get a confirmed reservation or are you only submitting a request for a particular excursion as used to be the case on Regent?

Dave

I'm fairly certain that it is a confirmed reservation. You can also cancel your reservation online. This is their wording:

"Below is a summary of the various activity reservations you have made for this voyage including:

Shore excursions
Mid-cruise Land Adventures
Spa/Salon appointments
In the event that you need to cancel an activity, you must do so by the specified deadline in order to avoid cancellation penalties. Most tours may be cancelled on board by the date and time specified on the Silver Shore Booking Form, which is available in your suite upon boarding. Other tours have specified deadline dates. Cancellations made after the deadline specified in the tour description are subject to penalties of up to 100% and will be charged to your shipboard account. Any cancellation penalties due for Land Adventures must be paid prior to sailing. Within 7 days of sailing, tours may no longer be reserved or cancelled via My Voyage. Please see the Shore Concierge on board to book tours or make any changes."

[wripro]

On Silversea, as well as on Seabourn when you make a reservation for a tour online you are confirmed and will find the tickets in your suite on embarkation. There is no charge until you leave the ship and it is put on your account. You can cancel if you like up to a certain date prior to the tour, usually forty-eight hours.